Description

This weapon does not truly belong on these data pages, as it did not really enter service use as a naval weapon. However, about once a year, I receive an Email from someone who has just discovered that during World War II there was a naval 38 cm (15") projectile with a shaped charge warhead. Most of these people simply want to know if this projectile was used on the Bismarck class battleships, as those were the only German ships of that era that carried 38 cm (15") guns. A few, however, go much further, claiming that this was the "secret weapon" that exploded and destroyed HMS Hood at Denmark Strait.

The reality is somewhat more pedestrian. About 1942, the German Navy had developed a short-barrel 38 cm (15") Raketenwerfer (literally, "Rocket Thrower") gun as an anti-submarine weapon. This was employed at least in Norway, but was unsuccessful in that role and it appears that few were manufactured. However, in 1943 the Wehrmacht was developing a wall-busting AFV based upon the Tiger IE chassis. One of the requirements for this vehicle was that it mount a weapon that could fire the largest possible HE shell. The Naval rocket gun was chosen, slightly modified for mounting in the Tiger fighting compartment, and then redesignated as the 38 cm RTg (Raketen-Tauchgranate) Stu M RW61 L/5.4. And so, the Panzermoerser 38 cm (self-propelled 38 cm mortar) or Sturmtiger was born.

To give this vehicle an increased ability to penetrate thick concrete walls, one or more hollow-charge projectiles were developed. These, of course, are the 38 cm "naval" projectile that I get asked about.

Please see the cut-away drawing of these projectiles shown below. From this drawing, it can be seen that these projectiles had very thin walls and thus could not withstand the shock of being fired out of the naval 38 cm (15") gun.

Additional data about the "Sturmtiger" can be found from the references listed below or from any of the many websites devoted to the AFVs of the German Army - I personally recommend Achtungpanzer.

Gun Characteristics

Designation 38 cm (15") Raketenwerfer 61 L/5.4
Ship Class Used On Coastal ASW
Date Of Design 1941 (?)
Date In Service 1942 (?)
Gun Weight N/A
Gun Length oa about 81 in (2.500 m)
Bore length N/A
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire N/A

Ammunition

Type Rocket Projectile
Projectile Types and Weights
  • Naval rounds: N/A 1
  • SturmTiger rounds
    • Raketen Sprenggranate 4581 (HE): 761 lbs. (345.2 kg)
    • Raketen Hohladungsgranate 4582 (shaped charge warhead): about 772 lbs. (351 kg)
    • WGr 4592 (shaped charge warhead): 772 lbs. (351 kg) 2
Bursting Charge 4581 - 275 lbs. (125 kg)
Projectile Length about 60 in (1.5 m)
Propellant Charge N/A
Muzzle Velocity 299 fps (91 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
  • ^The naval ASW rocket had a fuze activated by water pressure on a rubber membrane. This could be set to either explode on impact or at a 33 to 40 foot (10 to 12 m) depth.
  • ^The WGr 4592 could penetrate about 100 inches (2.5 m) of reinforced concrete.

Range

Range with 761 lbs. (345.2 kg) HE Rocket
Elevation Distance
n/a 5,030 to 8,750 yards (4,600 to 8,000 m)

Mount / Turret Data

Designation N/A
Weight N/A
Elevation N/A
Elevation Rate N/A
Train N/A
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A

Additional Pictures

Sources

"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Panzerkampfwagen VI: Tiger I and II 'Königstiger' " by Walter J. Spielberger and Uwe Feist
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Achtungpanzer Website
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Special help from Richard Worth and Nathan Okun

Page History

23 June 2006 - Benchmark
20 May 2012 - Updated to latest template
22 February 2018 - Converted to HTML 5 format